For me this episode just gets right to the core. The whole first act where Buffy finds her mum and its one long shot of her panicking, very little cutting... its as if its just happening, very real. The whole 'Mummy' thing as well. I think its one of the first times i actually thought of Buffy as being a child once, because shes normally all 'lets-save-the-world-blah-blah-blah' (not meant to sound as if im taking the micky but i realise it does slightly so i apologise for that). Basically its her being a kid again, not knowing how to cope with a situation. Thats a moment.
Next i have to say the whole Willow scenes. As has been mentioned here many a time, Allison just has that thing that makes you cry, i dont know what it is... the eyes, the desperation, the geekyness... i dont know but she has something that everytime chokes me up.
The next is Anya... Up until that point i cried slightly, got a little choked up and a bit snotty if you know what i mean... but when Anya gives that speech... i broke down completally. I was watching it on DVD and i had to actually stop it because i couldnt see my eyes were so red and watery. I was heartbroken. Its like when your a kid and you ask things because you really dont understand and people get all annoyed at you for asking when really all you need is some kind of answer... i relate to that alot. Its very real i think, and up until that point Anya was the one who was funny and sometimes annoying but always sweet, and then we se her like that and it blows her character fully open and reveals a new side. I liked her a heck of a lot more after that.
Another thing is just seeing the body its-self. Its kind of creepy but at the same time beautiful because you know who this person has been and how she spent her last few weeks, and although she had hard times she had her family there and brings that point home. I dont know, the whole episode for me was really poignant.
Another thing was the Dawn thing... like when shes crying because that guy said that she was strange or whatever, and she thinks its the worse thing in the world, and then just moments later she finds out her mum is dead... i think it makes you see that small things are small and we can see them as big things until something really big comes along. Its also i think the point where she grows up and matures alot in herself, that moment when she turns around and sees Buffy.
Oh and another thing, i think it really hits home how important Giles is to Buffy. What with him being the first person she calls. I think he is really her father figure and i know the point came up before and since but it really sets it in stone i think and thats a sweet moment.
Gosh, i could on a lot longer but i think i have repetitive strain injury now and i really need a drink....
x
